Scwd or no

[muggle0981]

So doing tank maintenance and appears my scwd is shot

Replace-do something different??

 

[User]

What is an scwd ?

 

[davocean]

I only recently heard they still make those, thought they were long gone!

Is yours loud and clunky?

 

[davocean]

What is an scwd ?

They were one of the first and least expensive ways to provide alternating water flow.

https://www.marinedepot.com/SCWD_Wa..._Aquariums-3IQ_Ventures-3Q1111-FIWMEW-vi.html

 

[muggle0981]

Nah-quiet-was quiet

 

[muggle0981]

And open to other suggestions

If remove scwd would just use return pump to pump water back to both returns?

 

[davocean]

What size tank and what do you have for pumps/PH's?

I think they were hit or miss on how well they worked, I remember a lot of noise complaints.

I think last time hearing about them it was said they were a little better, and it's pretty cheap to try another.

Most alternatives are going to dig deeper in the wallet.

 

[muggle0981]

Have had this tank set up for 8 years

Started in a 55 gallon and then upgraded to 120g...24x24x48

Have maxspect gyre 250 on left side then small powerhead-minimal on right side of tank. Chiller return to tank is in middle back of tank.

Have one sicce pump that feeds into my 1/4hp chiller (use to run metal halides) and my other sicce pump (i think 2.0, i don’t think it was 3...can’t see it and replaced it once in 10 years) fed into the scwd.

Have gone with recomendations from my lfs store who has helped me make my tank what it is today so i do trust their guidance as he had been in business 25 years...


Have replaced the scwd once in 10 years and have been very happy with the results.

 

[muggle0981]

And while asking ?

Open to light suggestions-currently runnin ai sol whites-which have been on tank for probably 7 years-heck maybe 8

Thinkinf there lifespan could be coming to an end

 

[davocean]

Seeing as it's mostly softies I don't think random flow is as needed and you could do w/out it, and your gyre is probably giving plenty there.
I would most likely just use that pump straight to returns w/out a scwd.

The people that got good ones loved those things, but heard lots of comments on noise level on a lot of them.

Try it w/out, see how tank responds would be my suggestion.

Lights, too many options, I know what I run but I need heavy light for anemone mainly so what I use would be more than what you need, I'll let someone else chime in on that.

 

[muggle0981]

Thanks for your time

 

[ca1ore]

I only recently heard they still make those, thought they were long gone!

Is yours loud and clunky?

Likewise! I used one a very long time ago and it only lasted about two years before it got loud .... and then got stuck. Moved to an OM device, which I still use.

 

[davocean]

Likewise! I used one a very long time ago and it only lasted about two years before it got loud .... and then got stuck. Moved to an OM device, which I still use.

That was the choice most had years ago, and OM was way smoother and quieter, though I think those were about $250 or around there, so a little cost difference, but worth it IMO

 

[ca1ore]

I think the key with all of these devices is to keep them sand free.

 

[sandswhitson]

If it worked well and wasn't noisy I would get another one. Cheap alternative flow.